Mr Brightside claims ninth Group 1 success with second Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield

Mr Brightside looked vulnerable again but the champion would not be denied this time as he made it back-to-back Futurity Stakes wins at Caulfield.

Mr Brightside holds on to win the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

People want to see champions win by five.

But sometimes they just need to be gutsy.

Mr Brightside, the eighth horse to win multiple Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and first since Lindsay Park great Niconero (2008-09), needed to be tough at both ends of the race.

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In trademark style, Mr Brightside was up for the fight under champion jockey Craig Williams.

The nine-time Group 1 and All-Star Mile winner went forward from widest barrier 11 and absorbed the hot speed outside leader Private Life, finished last and gone on the bend.

Mr Brightside, a sitting duck again potentially, left in front early last start in the CF Orr Stakes and collared late, would not be denied again.

MR BRIGHTSIDE DOES IT AGAIN! HE BECOMES A 9-TIME GROUP 1 WINNER! 👑

HOW ABOUT THE RUNS FROM I WISH I WIN AND TOM KITTEN!? @[e-mail]/VSBGAc4s30

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 22, 2025

• What the jockeys said: 2025 Futurity Stakes

“He stuck his head out at the winning post, not forgetting he had the outside barrier draw,” Williams said.

“Wide like he was the other day, against some very good horses, and they don’t give Group 1s away.

“It’s a really hot day, firmer track, so credit to the horse, credit to all the people behind him.”

Tom Kitten and I Wish I Win launched late on Saturday, beneficiaries of the fast early tempo, to get within a head of Mr Brightside but all power to the winner.

“He’s an absolute marvel, it was a terrific ride from Craig,” co-trainer Will Hayes said.

“We’re so blessed to have him (Mr Brightside) in our stable and his ability to overcome a wide gate is a credit to himself. So tough.

“It was a terrific run from Tom Kitten and I Wish I Win. We had our heart in the mouth the last hundred because we knew we were going to be a little bit vulnerable late from the wide gate and having to work across. He really dug deep and we found that inch.”

LAURIE TREASURES ANOTHER MOMENT

Mornington trainer Matt Laurie had few worries as classy filly Treasurethe Moment stretched her winning streak to five in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes.

Treasurethe Moment ($2.70 fav) won the Group 1 VRC Oaks over 2500m at her previous run in the spring but had no trouble dropping back to 1400m first-up.

The Alabama Express filly raced handy to the lead before strolling to victory over developing three-year-old Jenni The Fox ($26).

Treasurethe Moment returns in fine style!

She could be in for a big preparation! 👀@YulongInvest@[e-mail]/Kz2WH161c0

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 22, 2025

“It was painless sort of viewing, wasn’t it?,” Laurie said.

“To do that as top weight, first up over 1400 after stretching her out to the Oaks trip, it’s very exciting.”

Laurie said Treasurethe Moment would tackle the Kewney Stakes at Flemington before heading up to Sydney for the Group 1 double of the Vinery Stakes and Australian Oaks.

VICTORY FOR VOLANTE

Coeur Volante returned to the winner’s stall in style on Saturday at Caulfield with victory in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m).

Champion jockey Blake Shinn rated the Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson-trained mare perfectly behind a hot speed - set by front-runner Grinzinger Belle - and took over inside the last 300m.

"She's got them on toast!"

Coeur Volante dominant in the Mannerism Stakes! ⚡️@BallymoreStabls@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/73CvIaui4q

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 22, 2025

So Glamorous and Quintessa finished off nicely to round out the top three from Grinzinger Belle.

“We’ll probably go up to Sydney with her now for the Coolmore (Classic),“ Moroney said.

“We think she’s Group 1 class and she run a good race here in the Thousand Guineas probably on pretty tired legs so I’m pretty sure that she’ll handle 1500m no problems.”

Originally published as Mr Brightside claims ninth Group 1 success with second Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield